Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-05-26
CHAPTER XII,
BEFORE THE BATTLE.


Luckily for us, InfadOoS and the chief
knew all the pathways of the great town
perfectly, so that Notwithstanding the in
tense gloom we made fair progress
For an hour or more we Journeyed on till
at length the eclipse began to pass, and that
edge of the sun which had disappeared the
first, became again visible. In another five
minutes there was sufficient light to see our
whereabouts, and we then discovered that
we were clear of tie town of Loo, and ap-
preaching a large flat-topped hill, measur-
ing some two miles in circumference. This
hill, which was formation very common in
Southern Africa, was not very high; indeed
its greatest elevation was not more than
two hundred feet, but it was shaped like a
horseshoe and its sides were rather precipi-
tous, and strewn with powders. On the
grass table-land at the top was ample camp
ing-grOund which had been utilized as a
military cantOnment of no mean strength.
Its ordinary garrison was one regiment of
three thousand men, but as we tOiled up the
steep side of the hill in the returning day
light we perceived that there were many
more warriors than that upon it.
Reaching the table-land at last we found
crowds of men huddled together in the ut
most CONSERVATION at the natural phenOme-
non which they were witnessing. Passing
through these without word, we gained a
hut in the center of the ground, where we
were aStoniShed to find two men waiting,
laden with our few good sand chattels, which
of course we had been obliged to leave be-
hind in our hasty flight.
81 sent for Them" explained InfadO0S;
''alSo for these" and he lifted up Goods
l0ng-loSt trousers.
With an exclamation of rapturouS delight
Good sprung at them, and instantly pro-
ceeded to put them on.
''Surely my lord will not hide his beautiful
white legsr' exclaimed Infad0OS, regret
fully.
But Good persisted, and once only did the
Kukuana people get the chance of seeing
his beautiful legs again. Good is very
modest. Henceforward they had to satisfy
their aesthetic longingS with his one whiSker
his transparent eye, and his movable teeth
Still gazing with fond remembrance a
Goods trousers, InsadooS next informed u;
that he had summoned the regiments to eN
plain to them fully the rebellion which wa
decided on by the chiefs, and to introduce t
them the rightful heir to the throne, 1gnosi
In half an hour the troops, i'll all nearl,
twenty thousand men, constituting the flow
er of the Kukuana army, were mustered o.
a large open space, TO which we proceeded
The men were drawn up in three sides OF
dense square, and presented magnihcer
spectacle. We took our station on the ope
side of the square, and were speedily SUI
rounded by allthe principal chiefs and OF
GERS
These, after silence had been proclaimed
InfadooS proceeded to address. He narTate
to them in vigorous and graceful language
for like most Kukuanas of high rank. he wa
a born orator-the history of lgnoSiS father
how he had been basely murdered by Iwala
the king and his wife and child driven OF
to starve. Then he pointed out how I'd
land suffered and groaned under Twala
cruel rule, instaneing the proceedings OF tn
previous night, when, under the pretenSe
their being evil-doers, many OF the noble
in the land had been hauled forth and cruel
done to death.